The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-04-09

CRITICAL AND PRACTICAL NOTES
BY PROF. SAMUEL |. CURTlSS.
Lesson II of the International Series,
Second Quarter, FOR sunday, April 10.
Text Of the Lesson, Genesis xii, 38-aS.
Golden Text, Psalms N,Nvii, D.

| At first Joseph was greatly prospered after
he went 10 Egypt He became overseer of
Potiphal's house Nicn. xxx, 3, a; but Il
new trial was needed to lit him for the place
which God had ready for him, as well as to
introduce him to it, The wife of his master
tempted him 10 sin. Unlike Reuben and
Judah, who fell into such disgraceful lusts,
he repealed the temptation, refusing to wrong
his master and to sin against God Gen.
xxx, 81.
Through n false accusation he was thrown
into prison Tvs ~, 90, and for long years suf-
fercd on account of his virtue. There he
manifested the same capacity for leadership
rs in Potiphars house. He was made super
intendent Of the prisoners Tvs. ~, 2N. Among
them were two officers of Pharaoh. one his
chief butler, the other his chief baker.
Through Gods help he interpreted the dreams
which had ocCasioncd each much disqulefude
In accordance with his Interpretation, on Pha-
raoh's birthday the baker was hanged, while
the butler was r stored to his place. The but
Ter did not leave his prison until Joseph had
made him confidant, and assured him OF
his innocence, and begged him tn intercede
for him with Pharaoh Gen. H. ", 10. But
that ungrateful official forgot him for two
years. God, however, did not forget him.
In his plan Joseph was simply bidng his
time
In the chapter from which our lesson IL
taken we ind Pharaoh, in his dream, at the
bank OF the Nile Gen. XII y. Nothing is more
true to life IN any literature than the entire
history Of Joseph, which betrays, rs the most
eminent Psychologists have shown, won
derful familiarity with the manners and Gus
toms Of Egypt at the time indicated. In
deed, objections which were once raised to
certain statements in the sto. , OF Joseph by
distinguished scholars Of former generation
Won Bohlen and Tuchl have been found to
be entirely without foundation.
The Pharaoh mentioned here was IN
doubleday one Of the Hyksos or shepherd
kings and he is believed by leading Egyptian
scholars, in accordance with ancient testi
monies (Synceus) and modern Investigations,
TO have been Apepi ,Aphophis,, the last of
the shepherd kings.
The scene described in the dream has a
truly Egyptian color Since Egypt was the
creature Of the Nile. which received divine
honors, and the various changes IN the river
were regarded with the utmost anxiety, il
was in keeping that the king should he there.
In his dream he sees seven sleek kline feeding
in the reed grass Revised Version, which are
presently devoured by seven poor kline, which
are afterward as lean as ever He awskes
but soon dreams again. This time he sees
seven plump ears growing on one stalk.
TkEr, however, are dcvoured by seven blasted
Jars The king on awakening from his sleep
| his Sarrnl aprl..s lRay ia.l Na,uinnN
but they cannot explain his dreams 1t is
then thnt Gods time comes The chief butler
sSsnembers Joseph and mentions him to pha
1soh. All the things which seemed to- be
| against Joseph, under Gods everything prapi-
lence had simply been steps preparatory to
hat hour. After making his toilet precisely
act orling to the demands OF Egyptian Ell
auette Be appears before the king, and
under Gods guidance explains Pharaohs
| two dreams Ms one, and that their
| purport is that Egypt il to he visited
with plenty for seven years, and then
with seven years of famine. Such an event
was very rare, but it occurred us late rs 1914
to l0Tl A. ID. And there was long period
OF famine under Apepi, the Pharaoh before
whom Joseph has been supposed by some at
| that time 10 have stood. Joseph not only
told the king what was to come to pass, but
also suggested an admirable plan for storing
up a supply OF food during the years OF
plenty ". $3.50.
| THE LESSON.
God the Source of Jo,eph's Wisdom TVS s.
sg.-Neither in Josephs Interpretation Of the
buffers and bakers dreams nor in his inter
probation Of P.araohs does he claim to make
them known through his own wisdom. Ill
rather ascribes all his knowledge to God
Although Pharaoh doubtless did not know
, the true God, yet like other heathens he wa
, familiar with the idea that God Is the sourc,
OF wisdom He therefore asks his servant
whether they can find such a man in whom
4 the spirit Of God is. and without waiting 70
an answer he says to Joseph that, since Co
has given him the Interpretation OF tn
! dreams, and the best plan for providing
8 against the years Of famine, there is noa,
$50 discreet and wise as thou"